Portable incinerator

ABSTRACT

Portable self-contained incinerator apparatus for upgrading the quality of pollution control in which particulate emission is significantly reduced through means for wet-scrubbing the smoke to remove particulate and other harmful material prior to the entry of the smoke into the atmosphere. The system, in addition to removing particulate, is self-cleaning. The portable nature of the device makes it useful in a wide variety of applications.

United States Patent Domnitch 51 Apr. 24, 1973 [5 PORTABLE INCINERATOR 2,643,105 6/1953 Lipowitz ..110/119 Inventor: Irving Domnitch, 5 Forty-First Avenue, Elmhurst, NY. 1 1373 1,036,879 7/l966 Great Britain ..1 10/8 R [22] Flled: July 13,1971

21 AWL 1 2,195 Primary ExaminerKenneth W. Sprague Assistant Examiner.lames C. Yeung A11 -S'd G F b t l. 52 us. c1 ..110/8 R, 110/19, 110/119 may my a ere a [51 Int. Cl ..F23g 3/00 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..110/8 R, 8 A, 19, 1

110/119 Portable self-contained incinerator apparatus for upgrading the quality of pollution control in which par- [56] References Cited ticulate emission is significantly reduced through means for wet-scrubbing the smoke to remove particu- UNITED STATES PATENTS late and other harmful material prior to the entry of 3,530,805 9 1970 Bowman ..110/8 A the Smoke into the atmosphere The System, in addi- 3 29 754 4 19 2 Doyle 1 10 19 tion to removing particulate, is self-cleaning. The 3,310,009 3/1967 Jacobs ....1 10/8 A portable nature of the device makes it useful in a wide 1,479,875 [/1924 Shaughnessy ..1 10/8 R variety Of applications. 3,307,507 3/1967 Boyd ..1 10/8 R 1,955,641 4/ 1934 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Lane ..ll0/l9 PORTABLE INCINERATOR The present invention relates to incinerators and more particularly to an incinerator having a novel wetscrubber and being totally self-contained so as to facilitate its use in a wide variety of applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A primary concern of the present invention is the reduction of pollution in the air we breathe which is otherwise caused by incinerators of present day design.

The invention provides a portable apparatus for scrubbing incinerator emissions in an economical manner and having few moving parts while being totally self-contained and portable so as to provide a high quality and yet simple and reliable structure capable of being moved to and set up at a new site for indefinite use thereat.

Conventional reduction and emission control systems typically utilize a large amount of equipment and controls to achieve a completely automated reduction cycle. Due to their complicated nature, a fault or failure occurring in even a minor component thereof necessitates a tedious and lengthy procedure before the equipment can be put back on line, resulting in significant increases in the cost of design, assembly and disassembly, and maintenance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized by providing a completely portable incinerator system which effectively removes particulate and other undesirable material from incinerator emissions, while doing so in a simple, straight-forward and highly reliable manner.

through the employment ofa totally self-contained and readily transportable structure.

The present invention is comprised of a wheeled structure provided with a tow bar to facilitate movement of the structure to any desired location. The structure incorporates a firing chamber provided with a hopper door for receiving refuse which is deposited upon an open grate having an ash pit accessible for cleaning purposes through a clean-out door. The firing chamber is coupled through a circuitous by-pass outlet to the flue stack. The portion of the by-pass chamber'in closest proximity to the fire chamber is provided with a gas burner communicating with a fuel source mounted exterior to the structure and releasably secured thereto to cause the material passing through the by-pass conduit to undergo a second burning (after-burner") operation. A barrier means is provided within the exiting flue for restraining the particulate from exiting with the emitted smoke and gases. A water spraying device emits a fine water spray upon the porous barrier which thoroughly washes the barrier to cause particulates to be removed therefrom through the combined cooperation of the porous material and the film of water sprayed upon one surface of the barrier. A tank is provided for storing a sufficient amount of water for the spraying operation.

Portions of the tortuous exiting flue are designed to facilitate collection of the particulate bearing water after it has passed through the porous barrier and for disposing of the water. The water spray serves the further function of continuously washing the porous barrier so as to provide a substantially self-cleaning device. All the components necessary for operation of the portable incinerator are mounted for simple and immediate use and the design is such as to facilitate simple and straightforward assembly and/or disassembly for inspection, maintenance or cleaning purposes. The portability of the device makes it extremely attractive for use in a variety of applications such as, for example, as an auxiliary device for disposing of refuse from adjacent buildings which are not presently equipped to dispose of waste material while substantially reducing the amount of particulate material which enters the atmosphere as well as for use in areas not normally requiring a permanent incinerator structure such as picnic areas, parks, playgrounds and the like.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a novel portable emission reduction structure for use in burning waste material refuse and the like, which unit is totally self-contained, is readily portable and utilizes a porous barrier and film of water associated therewith to eliminate the presence of particulate from exiting gases and smoke, and for performing the dual function of providing a self-cleaning system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The above as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accompanying description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of a portable incinerator design in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partially sectionalized, and looking in the direction of arrows G-G' of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 shows a portable incinerator 10 designed in accordance with the principals of the present invention. FIGS. 27 show various sectional views of the apparatus of FIG. 1, helpful in explaining all the features and portions thereof.

As shown in the Figures, portable incinerator 10 comprises a housing having a floor Ill, right-hand end wall 12, right-hand side wall 13 (see FIG. 7), left-hand end wall 14 (see FIG. 1) and left-hand side wall 15, all of said walls cooperatively forming a metallic outer enclosure. The metal enclosure is provided with a firing chamber 16 having a floor 16a, right-hand side wall 16b, ceiling 16c, left-hand side wall 16d, left-hand end wall l6e, and right-hand end wall 16f (see FIG. 3), which are formed of a rigid asbestos fireproof insulation material. Rear wall 16d is provided with an inclined portion 16g to form an ash pit region 17 fitted with three tiltable metal grates 18, 19 and 20, respectively, each of which pivots about pivot rods 18a, 19a

and 1012, respectively, so as to be movable to the dotted line position 18', 19' and 20', respectively, in order to facilitate the collection of decomposed refuse in ash pit 17. The grates 18-20 may be rotated from the exterior of the housing by means of crank handles l8a20a positioned at the exterior of the incinerator housing. If desired, a single crank can be employed to rotate all three grates in unison by providing suitable gearing means.

Wall 12 of the incinerator housing is provided with a hopper door 21 pivoted about a hinge means 21a to provide access to the firing chamber for inserting the refuse to be burned. Hopper door 21 is provided with asbestos insulation 21b along its interior surface providing a substantially continuous fireproof insulation barrier within the chamber.

Side walls 16e and 16f are also provided with inwardly tapered bottom portions 16h and l6i, respectively, which further act together with inclined wall 163 to form the perimeter for the grates 1820 and to guide decomposed refuse outwardly toward the gates.

The rear portion of firing chamber 16 communicates with the lower portion 23 of a by-pass conduit which is also lined with the rigid, fireproof asbestos insulation as shown at 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d and 23a (note FIGS. 1 and 3). As can best be seen from FIG. 2, the walls of the ash pit 17a-17d are secured to an interior metal enclosure comprised of walls 24a, 24b and 24c, respectively, with the metal enclosure wall 12 forming the fourth wall of ash pit 17. Wall .12 is further provided with a pivotally mounted door 26 to facilitate clean-out of ash pit 17.

An extension of floor or base 11 of the exterior enclosure forms a platform 1 1a for supporting a bottle gas tank 27 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 8), secured to the portable incinerator by metallic straps 28a and 29. The outlet opening 27a of tank 27 is coupled through a conduit 30 and valve 31 to a gas burner 32, which is fitted through a sleeve 33 provided in side wall 15a which, together with side wall 15b, forms a mounting region for tank 27. The function of burner 32 is such as to cause material passing through by-pass conduit 23 to undergo a second or after-burning operation to further assure the fact that all materials placed in the firing chamber 16 are substantially completely consumed.

The exiting material passes out of firing chamber 16 and into region 23g (see arrow 34, FIG. 3). The fuel supply source 27 provides an afterburner operation upon the exiting fumes as they enter region 23g (see FIG. 8). Thereafter, the reheated fumes move downwardly (see arrow 34, FIG. 8) and then upwardly around barrier 23a (see FIGS. 3 and 8) to enter the upper portion of the flue, and passes upwardly and outwardly through a tortuous path shown by dotted line 34 (FIG. 1). An upper portion 23a of tortuous conduit 23 is fitted with a porous barrier member 35 which may preferably be a wire screen so that any emission passing through the conduit on the way to the flue stack must pass through barrier 35.

An upper surface 36 of the portable incinerator metallic enclosure supports a water tank 38 by means of support and anchoring members 37. The tank is fitted with an outlet conduit 39 (see FIG. 7) having a valve 40 for controlling the flow of water therefrom. The water further passes through two outlet conduits 41a and 41b forming a sprinkler system. The sprinklers 41a and 41b are provided with openings (and/or nozzles) along their bottom side (not shown for purposes of simplicity) in order to spray water upon the upper surface of diagonally aligned porous barrier 35.

The upper end of the flue or conduit 23a is provided with hinge means 480 (see FIG. 8) for pivotally mounting a flue stack 48 whose bottom end is provided with a flange or lip 48a for embracing the upper portion of the metal enclosure in the manner shown best in FIG. 1. When the flue stack is in the operative position as shown by the dotted line configuration 48' in FIG. 8. The upper end of the flue stack is provided with a porous spark arrester structure 48b for preventing sparks carried upwardly by the waste emission from entering into the atmosphere. Hinge means 40 provides for movement of the flue stack to the solid line position 48 shown in FIG. 8 to facilitate transportation of the portable device to a particular site.

The operation of the portable incinerator is as follows:

The operator drops waste material into the firing chamber through hopper door 21 which is preferably biased (by means not shown) to remain in a normally closed position.

The refuse drops by gravity upon the metal grates 18-20 so as to be consumed by the fire which may be initiated by inserting an ignited member (i.e., matchstick) through the hopper door 21.

During combustion, the combustion gases emitted as the material is being consumed by the flame pass into the by-pass conduit 23. The combustion gases pass the gas fired after burner 33 located within a portion of the tortuous-shaped chamber, to burn and thereby reduce the fly ash content within the combustion emission. The combustion gases continue substantially in the upward direction as shown by dotted line 34. The valve 40 is moved to the open position to provide a spray of water upon one surface of the porous barrier member 35. The exiting emission is constrained to pass through the porous barrier causing particulate of a size greater than the screen openings to be prevented from passing therethrough. The downward spray of water forms a film upon the upper surface of porous barrier 35 which cooperates with the porous barrier to wash particulate from the emission and prevent it from passing upwardly into the flue 48. The particulate is caused to be washed downwardly and, together with the collected water, passes generally in a downward direction along inclined surface 45 and inclined surface 46 where the water, together with the particulate is gathered in a gutter 47. The gutter is inclined from its end 47a and 47b downwardly toward its center 470 (see FIG. 5) so as to pass through an outlet opening 49 and into a pipe 50 having an outlet opening 50a (see FIG. 8) for disposing of both water and particulate. If desired, the pipe 50 may be extended downwardly as shown in dotted fashion at 50b so as to directly dispose of the water carrying the particulate closer to ground level and preferably into a suitable container (not shown for purposes of simplicity). The pollutants which have been wetted down are caused to settle at the bottom of the container (not shown) and may periodically be collected therefrom.

The portable incinerator structure is provided with an axle 53 secured to the portable incinerator metallic enclosure by brackets 54 and 55 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Axle 53 is fitted with a pair of wheels 57 and 58, preferably of the air-inflated type.

A substantially V-shaped rigid towing bar 59 is secured to wall 12 of the portable incinerator metallic enclosure and may be provided with a coupler .60, which may, for example, be a universal joint, coupling the incinerator to the rear of the vehicle. In towing, the incinerator is tilted preferably to an angle of 15 so as to be inclined as shown by dotted line 10' in FIG. 1 during transportation thereof.

The metallic platform 11 of the enclosure is fitted with a pair of levelling chuck assemblies 61 and 62 at the front end thereof, which assemblies are comprised of mounting brackets 61a-62a and feet 61b-62b, whose heights may be adjustably positioned by threaded members 61c62c which threadedly engage suitable tapped apertures within brackets 61a and 62a, respectively. A similar assembly 63 is provided at the rear end of the portable incinerator structure and is likewise provided with a foot member 63b whose vertical height may be adjusted by means of threaded member 630 which threadedly engages a suitable tapped aperture provided in mounting bracket 63d. The levelling chucks provide suitable alingment and support for the portable incinerator. By adjusting the levelling chuck assemblies 61 and 62, the wheels 57 and 58 may be slightly elevated from the ground or other supporting surface G so as to prevent any movement of the incinerator when in'use.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a novel, self-contained portable incinerator structure for use in burning waste material wherein harmful components which may be carried by the gaseous emission during the burning operation are completely removed from the exiting emission by means of a cooperating water film and porous screen whereby the water film provides a selfcleaning feature in addition to cutting down and removing particulate whereby the water and wetted down pollutants, after passing through the porous barrier are removed and collected from the portable incinerator in a simple and straightforward manner. All components necessary for incineration operations are mounted directly to the portable structure greatly facilitating transportation, set-up and use of the device. Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of the invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

lclaim: 1. Portable incinerator apparatus for reduction of refuse comprising: i

a metallic housing; a firing chamber provided at the lower end of said housing and being lined with a fireproof material; said firing chamber having an outlet opening for passing emissions from combusted refuse; flue stack provided at the upper end of said housing; a by-pass conduit having a tortuous path for coupling the outlet opening of said firing chamber to said flue stack;

a portion of said tortuous path including a conduit portion in which fumes exiting from said firing chamber pass first downwardly from said outlet opening and then upwardly toward said flue stack;

a diagonally aligned porous barrier means positioned within an upper portion of said conduit at a location intermediate said firing chamber outlet opening and said flue stack for preventing particulate from passing therethrough;

spray' means adapted for connection to a water supply and being positioned within said conduit and beneath said water supply for gravity feed of the water to develop a water spray upon one surface of said barrier means;

collection means positioned beneath said barrier means and within said conduit for collecting water and particulate carrier by said water to an outlet conduit provided between said collection means and the exterior of said housing, said collection means including a sloping portion forming a part of said tortuous path;

a wheel assembly coupled to the base of said housing for rollingly transporting said incinerator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a burner adapted for connection to a fuel gas source and being positioned within the downward portion of said by-pass conduit adjacent said firing chamber for burning any material and/or emission passing into said bypass conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising adjustable chuck means secured to the base of said housing for aligning said incinerator upon the terrain where the incinerator is to be used and to prevent any rolling movement of said incinerator during use.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising plural rotatable adjustable grating means positioned above the floor of said firing chamber to thereby provide an ash pit beneath said firing chamber and plural means mounted at the exterior of said metallic housing and coupled to each of said grating means for selectively adjusting said grating means;

first door means provided in said housing for gaining access to said ash pit for cleaning purposes;

second door means provided in said housing above said first door means for gaining access to said firing chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising water storage means mounted upon the exterior of said housing above said spray means and being connected thereto by valve means for selectively controlling the flow of water to said spray means by gravity.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fuel gas container releasably secured to said housing and being connected to said burner means by valve means for selectively controlling the flow of fuel gas to said burner means;

said housing being provided with a platform along its exterior for supporting said fuel gas container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flue stack is pivotally coupled to said housing upper end and is adapted to be pivoted toward a first direction away from the operative position to reduce the overall height of the incinerator during transport thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of said tortuous path is comprised of a pair of overlapping spaced inclined ledges positioned below said barrier means for guiding water passing through said barrier means to said collection means. 

1. Portable incinerator apparatus for reduction of refuse comprising: a metallic housing; a firing chamber provided at the lower end of said housing and being lined with a fireproof material; said firing chamber having an outlet opening for passing emissions from combusted refuse; flue stack provided at the upper end of said housing; a by-pass conduit having a tortuous path for coupling the outlet opening of said firing chamber to said flue stack; a portion of said tortuous path including a conduit portion in which fumes exiting from said firing chamber pass first downwardly from said outlet opening and then upwardly toward said flue stack; a diagonally aligned porous barrier means positioned within an upper portion of said conduit at a location intermediate said firing chamber outlet opening and said flue stack for preventing particulate from passing therethrough; spray means adapted for connection to a water supply and being positioned within said conduit and beneath said water supply for gravity feed of the water to develop a water spray upon one surface of said barrier means; collection means positioned beneath said barrier means and within said conduit for collecting water and particulate carrier by said water to an outlet conduit provided between said collection means and the exterior of said housing, said collection means including a sloping portion forming a part of said tortuous path; a wheel assembly coupled to the base of said housing for rollingly transporting said incinerator.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a burner adapted for connection to a fuel gas source and being positioned within the downward portion of said by-pass conduit adjacent said firing chamber for burning any material and/or emission passing into said by-pass conduit.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising adjustable chuck means secured to the base of said housing for aligning said incinerator upon the terrain where the incinerator is to be used and to prevent any rolling movement of said incinerator during use.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising plural rotatable adjustable grating means positioned above the floor of said firing chamber to thereby provide an ash pit beneath said firing chamber and plural means mounted at the exterior of said metallic housing and coupled to each of said grating means for selectively adjusting said grating means; first door means provided in said housing for gaining access to said ash pit for cleaning purposes; second door means provided in said housing above said first door means for gaining access to said firing chamber.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising water storage means mounted upon tHe exterior of said housing above said spray means and being connected thereto by valve means for selectively controlling the flow of water to said spray means by gravity.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fuel gas container releasably secured to said housing and being connected to said burner means by valve means for selectively controlling the flow of fuel gas to said burner means; said housing being provided with a platform along its exterior for supporting said fuel gas container.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flue stack is pivotally coupled to said housing upper end and is adapted to be pivoted toward a first direction away from the operative position to reduce the overall height of the incinerator during transport thereof.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a portion of said tortuous path is comprised of a pair of overlapping spaced inclined ledges positioned below said barrier means for guiding water passing through said barrier means to said collection means. 